Skills/Philosophy

“Arts Integration allows us to
build chefs who make choices — not cooks who merely follow the recipe.” I first posted a copy of this quote by
Susan Riley of Education Closet on my face book page five years ago. The arts
integration certification program didn’t exist then, but I was drawn to this
approach to teaching and learning where the content is taught and assessed
equitably in and through the arts. I have always believed that the arts are
an integral part of a child’s education. I see children live in their
authentic selves when they work with the arts. Now, as a certified arts
integration specialist, I am excited to lead schools in arts integration so
students can acquire those important twenty-first century skills in tangible, meaningful ways.

I started teaching in
classrooms fifteen years ago when I was invited to share improv in a middle
school enrichment class. While teaching a story-telling improv game, I
realized to play the game, the students needed to know the difference between
first person and third person. I had an epiphany that improv could work in
classrooms as a teaching tool. That’s when I created IMP for Kids and began
designing and teaching residencies in the classrooms such as; Page to Stage,
Story Theater, Improv in Middle School Classrooms, Improv Character Building
in Health Classes. I have seen these programs bring many topics to life in
many classrooms, especially for non-traditional learners. I expanded my work
to include playwri so I could direct kids in performing quality, thought
provoking material. I have worked with many students in many projects from
Improv to Shakespeare. I mentored young artists as actors, teachers, stage
managers, playwrights, stage crew, set designers, and producers. I have even
had the pleasure of watching several of my students go on to the top theater
schools in the country and work professionally. Equally important, I watched thousands of students find a new sense of self they could take with
them off the stage and into their lives.

After spending my career as a
teaching artist more on the artist side of the continuum than teaching side,
I decided to sharpen my teaching skills. I became a certified Massachusetts
teacher in both music and theater. Then after years in these positions in several schools,
I realized I wanted to pursue a career where the arts are considered an
integral part of a child’s education rather than an extra, so I studied Arts
Integration in depth. Arts Integration gives me that opportunity to use all
my talents as teacher and artist to set up all students for success rather than just
the ones who pursue theater and music professionally. I have spent the last year using
these new tools to collaborate with my colleagues to co-create engaging
lessons and projects where students learn to master those important twenty-first century skills.

Long before it was identified
as a twenty-first century skill, my teaching philosophy and curriculum was
strongly rooted in the improv principles of ensemble. It is only through the
power of collaboration where everyone is valued equally no matter their
position in the project, can a project reach success. The improv
principle of “ yes and” is practiced in all my work. I set up an
atmosphere of respect for students and teachers in my projects. When young
artists feel supported by everyone in the room, they are able to take the
risks needed to achieve their full creative potential. I believe in
collaborating with my students. I strive to hear their creative voices so we
can together build meaningful projects and performances. I believe my role as
teacher is to guide the collaborative process.

I am now ready to guide the
collaborative process with fellow teachers to create a strong arts integration
program. With an atmosphere of collaboration and an eye on the goal of child
based education I can:

· Educate the staff on what Arts
Integration is and is not.

· Work through the pain points in
establishing an arts integration program.

·Lead the staff through figuring
out where the school falls on the Arts Integration continuum.

·Lead the staff in creating arts
integration lesson seeds, lesson plans, and assessments by using standards.

·Help the school establish
attainable goals for Arts Integration.

·Co-design or design lesson
plans in all content areas.

·Co-teach lessons in music,
theater and dance.

In closing, I am very skilled
at creating things from the ground up. As a theater teaching artist, I help
students create an entire play from nothing by - establishing the message of a
play, writing the play, designing the set, becoming actors, and sharing their
creations with an audience. Before IMP for Kids, arts in the classroom
programs did not exist on Martha’s Vineyard. My students have been learning
how to collaborate and make creative choices years before the need for twenty-first century skills were fully recognized. I know I can help your school
create an amazing arts integration program that benefits students and teachers.